We've all had the experience of buying what we thought was
a perfectly good product, only to have it fail on us. It happens whether you buy a budget
$29.99 watch, or a top of the line $600 set of component speakers. The truth is, no matter
how good or bad the manufacturer is, sometimes, an individual unit can be less than
perfect. Remember Murphy's law, 'If it can go wrong....'.
After it's broken, this is usually when we pay attention to the warranty, and it's also
when we find out that the warranty is probably not going to take care of us. All
manufacturers of car audio provide a "12 month warranty for parts and labor"
against "manufacturer defects in workmanship or material". What this essentially
means, is if you own this unit for 12 months, and baby it, and one day, it falls apart on
you, the manufacturer will pay the repair man and the parts supplier.
There are hidden costs you have to face that the manufacturer does not cover. First, you
may likely have to mail the unit to the factory, or your closest service center as most
stores will honor the warranty for the first 30 days, and after that, they don't want to
see you. This can easily cost at least $3.00, and normally runs $30.00 and up. Then, if
the repairer determines that the unit was damaged through abuse, or misuse, the
manufacturer may refuse to pay for the repairs. All this time, you are driving around
without part of your stereo system (and if it is the head unit which is damaged, you are
driving without your total system).
This is why it is important to consider your warranty when purchasing a product. A
warranty is a statement of a manufacturers willingness to stand behind a product. While it
is normally a 12/12 P&L, manufacturers of quality components offer warranties from 2
years to life. Though typically still a P&L warranty, it is a bolder statement of how
good their items are. Taking a step beyond that, some manufacturers even extend their
coverage to shipping and handling, and will sometimes cover things which are normally
considered abuse (like blown drivers, or melted amps). Sometimes, however, they will also
have special considerations for individual states or provinces, where local laws prohibit
exclusions under warranties.
Always read your warranty cards. Do not trust what the sales person or product
literature tells you. The sales person normally wants to sell you an extended warranty,
which while they are useful, are sometimes not necessary. The product literature itself
will also emphasize the warranties strong points. Under the Magnusson-Moss act, the store
must provide the manufacturers warranty for review (specifically, they are required to
maintain a binder containing the actual warranty cards as furnished by the manufacturer,
and make it available for customers to read at their convenience during store hours), and
may not misrepresent the manufacturers warranty to include or exclude service. That does
not mean they won't do it, just that they aren't supposed to. In addition, get any
guarantees that the salesperson makes in writing. If they are unable to show you in
writing what they claim (either pointing it out on a warranty card, or writing it on
paper), then do not trust them, and you probably should not buy from them.
Do not forget, that the store is not responsible for the item you buy. All they do is sell
it to you, and any service they give you on the item (letting you exchange it, or honoring
the manufacturers warranty service) is purely a customer service they provide. The
exception for that is any installation they provide. In this case, you deal with yet
another party in most cases. For car stereo, you either find in-house installation
facilities, or are referred to an outside contractor. The greater majority of problems
that arise with car audio equipment is caused by installation, and in those cases, it is
the duty of the install shop to resolve the issue (normally by replacing and correctly
installing the equipment). It is only when the installer determines that the unit is
indeed defective that the manufacturer is liable. Also, there are often limitations on
damage to your vehicle. In both cases, the manufacturer or shop are liable for damages to
your vehicle directly caused by the installation of the equipment or the use of the
equipment. For instance, if a manufacturer represents that an adapter will allow you to
connect a CD changer to your factory radio, but when you do, it burns out your changer,
and or radio, then in that case the the manufacturer is responsible for replacing those
damaged items. If, however, an installer, either through incorrect installation
procedures, improper tool uses, or misuse of the equipment, causes the damage, then the
installer is responsible. Most install shops are bonded and have insurance to cover
damages. Both the install shop and manufacturer are often eager to right any damages, so
it is important to remain calm and cooperative when and if these event occur.
That is why it is very important to send in your registration card. This provides the
manufacturer with a record of your purchase. The manufacturer is ultimately liable for
their product, and they will often provide you with very good service in getting your unit
repaired. In addition, if there is a product recall, you will find out before anyone else,
that you need to return your product. Another advantage is that many manufacturers will
offer incentives to their customers, like direct buying or freebies.
Finally, consider extended warranties. Many major chains like Circuit City, Best Buy,
Montgomery Ward, or Radio Shack, offer Extended Service Plans for anything you
purchase through them. These will normally extend well beyond the manufacturers coverage,
in both time and type of coverage. Read the ESP documentation carefully. Sometimes the
coverage will not improve on a manufacturers guarantee, and for many things, they are not
even needed.
A note on online or mail order purchasing. This is an especially gray area. Many
manufacturers, in order to maintain quality control, will establish
"territories" which are protected. For instance, the makers of a certain line of
amplifiers might restrict their dealers to one every 30 miles. This gives that dealer a
monopoly on that product, and it also helps the manufacturer to keep an eye on where they
are doing good. Most manufacturers do NOT honor warranties for online sales, or mail order
purchases, because this means there are no protected areas. If an online seller maintains
that they are an authorized dealer, contact the company to make sure. If they are not
authorized sellers, do not buy from them unless it is in your opinion, a worthy risk.
In conclusion, you should carefully consider your warranty when you buy something. It's
normally not until after you have a problem that you realize how ineffectual the warranty
is.